This once-a-year event features a tasty soup, and the festival is happening this weekend

Javier Agee-Coober, 7 of Tacoma had to use a fork to eat his sukiyaki noodles at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple’s 2017 Sukiyaki Dinner after closing his finger in his grandmother’s car door. Dean J. KoepflerNews Tribune file photo

Javier Agee-Coober, 7 of Tacoma had to use a fork to eat his sukiyaki noodles at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple’s 2017 Sukiyaki Dinner after closing his finger in his grandmother’s car door. Dean J. KoepflerNews Tribune file photo

The broth is a slightly sweetened soy sauce. Sunk into the bowl is thinly sliced beef, vegetables, rice noodles and a bit of tofu. The dish is called sukiyaki, and it’s not easy to find on Tacoma’s Japanese restaurant menus (possible, but not easy).

But for one day — and only one day — diners can feast on sukiyaki hot pot at the annual Tacoma Buddhist Temple Sukiyaki Dinner. The dinner is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the temple.

The event is a fundraiser to support the temple’s programs. It’s also a food and cultural festival of sorts with traditional Japanese dishes not often seen on local menus.

An army of volunteers produces the sukiyaki, which can be purchased by the bowl.

Sue Kidd has been The News Tribune’s restaurant critic since 2008. She dines anonymously and The News Tribune pays for all meals. Sue is a South Sound native. She writes about new restaurants, openings and closures and knows where to find the best tacos in every neighborhood.

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